Shoe warmer

ABSTRACT

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a ski boot heater for insertion into the interior of the ski boot. The heater is formed of a hollow, collapsible elastic container adapted to receive a quantity of hot liquid through an opening formed in the top portion of the container. When the ski boot heater is not in use, the container can be rolled up to occupy a relatively small space.

United States Patent 1 Krell I [111 3,823,434 [451 July 16,1974

1 1 SHOE WARMER [7 61 Inventor: Benno Krell, Zeil 115, 6 Frankfurt amMain, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,912

[52] U.S. Cl. 12/129.4 [51] Int. Cl A4311 3/00 [58] Field of Searchl'2/l29.4, 128 R, 128 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,270,666 6/1918 Smith 12/l29.4 1,846,774 2/1932 ,Watson... l2/129.4

3,193,861 7/1965 Howard 12/128 R Primary Examiner-Patrick D. LawsonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Olson, Trexler, Wolters,

Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd. 1

[5 7 ABSTRACT The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein isdirected to a ski boot heater for insertion into the interior of the skiboot. The heater is formed of a hollow, collapsible elastic containeradapted to receive a quantity of hot liquid through an opening formed inthe top portion of the container. When the ski boot heater is not inuse, the container can be rolled up to occupy a relatively small space.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Y SHOE WARMER V The invention concerns ashoe heater, in particular forski boots, which is inserted into theinterior of the shoe. The purpose of the invention is a device made assimple as possible for the heating of shoes, which can be used anywhere.I

Proposals for shoe-heating devices, which are inserted into the shoe ashort time, more or less, before the shoe is put on, have been madebefore. The wellknown proposals use, without exception, an electricalcurrent for heating. Thus, a shoe tree with an electrical bulb wasproposed, which was equipped with the necessary leads, conductors,clamps and fasteners, as well as a temperature regulator. All of thiselectrical equipment is relatively expensive. Outlets for an electricalcurrent are, also not always available, as in the case, for example, inski cabins.

The problem, therefore, upon which the invention is based, is to producea shoe heater which functions independently of any available electricaloutlets. This problem is solved by the invention, in that the shoeheater consists of an elastic hollow container which can be insertedinto theshoe interior and which can be filled with a hotliquid. Such ashoe heater, which is inserted into the shoeinterior sometime before theshoe is put on, and is only removed directly before the shoe is put on,functions as a simple hot water bottle. Hot water is always available.for use as a liquid for filling. It has been shown that water having atemperature of 70 degrees centigrade, keeps the shoes warm forapproximately two hours. Therefore, the feet are kept warm for sometimeafterthe shoes are put on, instead of the heat being drawn off the feet,which occurs when cold shoes are put on, thereby resulting in colds andan increased danger of injury while skiing. These shoe heaters can bemanufactured out of rubber, plastic or any other suitable material. Theexpense for such shoe heaters is very small, making it possible tomanufacture them as cheaply as simple hot water bottles.

'An advantage of this shoe heater, is that it completely fillsthe'interior of the shoe. Therefore, the shoe heater fits tightly in theshoe, resulting in a more favorable transfer of heat. In addition, moreliquid can be used because of this type of construction. The front ofthe shoe heater is usefully equipped with a pleated area. Theadaptability to various shoe sizes is thereby increased. It is for thesame reasons practical for the fillopening, which can be equipped with ascrew closure, to protrude from the shoe.

Two examples of the shoe heater, as specified by the invention, arerepresented in the drawing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show these examples diagramatically.

The shoe heater, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, made of rubber or plastic orany other suitable material, has the shape of the shoe interiorintowhich it will be inserted. After the shoe heater No l is insertedinto the shoe (not shown), and after removal of the screw cap 2, hotwater or another hot fluid is poured into the opening. In doing this,the exterior of the shoe warmer fits tightly against the interior wallof the shoe, making a favorable heat transfer possible. After a periodof time when the shoe has absorbed the heat of the hot liquid, the shoeheater is removed and the shoe is immediately put on, in order that thewarmth stays in the shoe, and the foot is kept warm. The positioning ofa pleated area (3) in the front of the shoe heater (4) appears in FIG.2. The fillopening uses a screw closure (5). V

In contrast to other well-known, and, in particular, electrical devices,most which are cumbersome, the shoe heater, as specified by theinvention, can be folded-up flat or rolled-up, before and after use, sothat it takes up no more space than, for instance, a pair of sockswould.

The shoe heater also has the advantage, that the upper part of the shoe,which is hard when the shoe is cold, becomes more pliable by using theshoe heater. This is especially important, if the upper part is not madeof leather, but of plastic, which becomes very hard when it is cold andpinches the foot, thereby increasing the danger of an accident.

I claim:

1. A ski boot heater for insertion into the ski boot interiorcomprising, a hollow, collapsible elastic c0n tainer having a firstportion shaped to conform substantially to the interior of a ski boot,and a second portion to extend upwardly to the top opening of the skiboot, an opening formed in said second portion through which hot liquidcan be poured into the interior of the hollow, collapsible elasticcontainer, and removable cap means secured to said opening for sealingthe hot liquid within said hollow, collapsible elastic container,whereby said hollow, collapsible elastic container can be rolled up tooccupy a relatively small space when notin use. r

2. The ski boot heater as set forth in claim 1 further including apleated area of limited extent formed in from the shoe, has a screwclosure (2,5). II t

1. A ski boot heater for insertion into the ski boot interiorcomprising, a hollow, collapsible elastic container having a firstportion shaped to conform substantially to the interior of a ski boot,and a second portion to extend upwardly to the top opening of the skiboot, an opening formed in said second portion through which hot liquidcan be poured into the interior of the hollow, collapsible elasticcontainer, and removable cap means secured to said opening for sealingthe hot liquid within said hollow, collapsible elastic container,whereby said hollow, collapsible elastic container can be rolled up tooccupy a relatively small space when not in use.
 2. The ski boot heateras set forth in claim 1 further including a pleated area of limitedextent formed in said first portion to provide means for changing theoverall length of said first portion to conform substantially to theoverall length of the interior of the ski boot into which it isinserted.
 3. Shoe heater, according to claim 1, thereby characterized,by the fact that its fill-opening, which protrudes from the shoe, has ascrew closure (2,5).